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Aquagirl

Aquagirl (Tula)
Tula Marius as depicted in The New 52
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAquaman vol. 1 #33 (May 1967)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoTula Marius
SpeciesAtlantean
Place of originAtlantis
Team affiliations
Supporting character of
Abilities
  • Atlantean physiology: able to breath underwater, superhuman strength and durability, withstand the extreme pressures of the ocean, swim at enhanced speeds.
  • Black ops specialist; proficiency in armed and unarmed combat, politics, espionage, and military tactics.
  • Some versions possess limited telepathic and magical powers.

Aquagirl (also Aqua-Girl) is the alias used by several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, typically depicted as supporting characters of Aquaman originating from the realm of Atlantis. The first two incarnations of the character, Lisa Morel (1959) and Selena (1963), were introduced as one-offs.

Tula, the third version of Aquagirl, debuted in Aquaman vol. 1 #33 (May–June 1967), representing the definitive version of the character. Initially depicted as an ally of Aquaman and the romantic interest of his sidekick Aqualad (Garth), Tula also served as a member of the Teen Titans before being killed in Crisis on Infinite Earths. Following the continuity reboot of The New 52 in 2011, the character was reintroduced as Tula Marius. In this iteration, Tula is portrayed as the half-sister of Aquaman's half-brother, Ocean Master. While she does not actively adopt the Aquagirl codename, the character assumed significant roles within Atlantis such as a high-ranking commander of a covert black-ops faction, a regent for Aquaman's administration, and as an honor guard during Mera's reign as Queen.[1]

Another iteration of Aquagirl, Lorena Marquez, was introduced in Aquaman vol. 6 #16 (May 2004). Lorena is a teenage girl who acquires Atlantean-like abilities after being exposed to a serum derived from Aquaman's DNA by an ethically questionable scientist. As part of a catastrophic event orchestrated by the scientist, a portion of San Diego sinks into the ocean following a triggered earthquake. Some of the affected population survives and develops sub-aquatic abilities. Aquaman and Lorena, together, contribute to the reestablishment of the community, which becomes known as "Sub Diego." Lorena subsequently assumes the role of Aquagirl, working alongside Aquaman as a costumed heroine. She exhibits notable detective skills alongside her aquatic powers. In her continued superhero journey, Lorena later joins the Teen Titans.

Several incarnations of Aquagirl have appeared in media, including the Tula incarnation in the animated series Young Justice and 2013 animated film Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, although she is not identified as her codename in either. Original incarnations of the character also appear, such as Mareena, the future daughter of Aquaman and Mera, who appears in the DC Animated Universe.

Publication history

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Aquagirl (Tula, left) in her first appearance on the cover of Aquaman vol. 1 #33 (May 1967). Art by Nick Cardy.

The Tula version of the character was introduced in Aquaman vol. 1 #33 (May–June 1967), created by Bob Haney and Nick Cardy.[2][3]

Fictional character history

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Tula

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Tula is an Atlantean orphan who is adopted by one of the royal families of Atlantis. She is given the title of princess and does not leave the palace until she meets Aqualad at age fifteen.[4] Garth and Tula enter a relationship before she is killed by Chemo during Crisis on Infinite Earths.[5]

Following Tula's death, Garth's evil uncle Slizzath creates an evil clone of her to siphon his energy. Additionally, she is temporarily resurrected by Brother Blood and the Black Lantern Corps on two separate occasions. In The New 52 continuity reboot, Tula is permanently resurrected and depicted as Ocean Master's half-sister.[1][6][7][8][9]

Lorena Marquez

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Aquagirl (Lorena Marquez)
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceAquaman vol. 6 #16 (May 2004)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoLorena Marquez
SpeciesMetahuman
Place of originSan Diego
Team affiliations
Supporting character of
Abilities
  • Atlantean-like physiology: able to breath underwater, superhuman strength and durability, withstand the extreme pressures of the ocean, swim at enhanced speeds.
  • Skilled hand-to-hand combat and keen detective skills

Lorena Marquez is a resident of San Diego who gains Atlantean powers alongside many of its residents after scientist Anton Geist experiments on them. After Geist destroys much of San Diego, killing thousands, Lorena helps the survivors rebuild underwater.[10] Lorena later joins the Teen Titans, where she befriends Static and flirts with Blue Beetle and Superboy.[11] Lorena does not appear following The New 52.[12]

Powers and abilities

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Tula's skill and abilities

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In her original iteration, Tula possess the typical abilities of an Atlantean; able to breathe underwater, possessed a level of superhuman strength, durability, and senses that enabled her to withstand the intense pressures of the ocean. She also possessed telepathic powers and was skilled in hand-to-hand combatant.

In more recent continuities, Tula retains most of her original abilities typically seen of an Atlantean as her previous iterations (breathing underwater, superhuman strength, swimming at extreme speeds, enhanced senses and reflexes) though portrayed at a greater degree and unlike Atlantean, is trained to be able to survive outside the surface for extended periods of time similarly to a human. She is also considered a adept Atlantean warrior, skilled with many weaponry possessed by Atlantis[1] and has considerable skill as a special forces commander, her skills including espionage, military tactics, and military training.[13] Tula is also proficient in politics, having enough experience and leadership qualities to act as a regent of Atlantis under Aquaman's administration.[14] Due to her status as regent, Tula possessed special governmental privileges during and even after her tenure.[15]

Other versions

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Lisa Morel

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Lisa Morel is introduced in Adventure Comics #266 (November 1959) as one of several violet-eyed Atlantean children born unable to adapt to the watery world. They had been sent to the surface in waterproof lifeboats so they might survive among land-dwellers, and Lisa was adopted by scientist Hugo Morel and his wife. With Aquaman in danger, Lisa's water-breathing and telepathic powers awaken; she makes herself a costume identical to Aquaman's, takes on the name "Aquagirl" and fights alongside him. However, her new-found powers are short-lived, and she loses them permanently. This is the first and last appearance of the character.[16][17]

Selena

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Selena is a young Poseidonis teenager who temporarily teams up with Aquaman under the name "Aqua-Girl" in World's Finest Comics #133 (May 1963) to make her former boyfriend jealous. She succeeds, making Aqualad jealous of her temporary status as Aquaman's sidekick as well. This is the first and last appearance of the character.[18][19]

Alternate versions

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In Kingdom Come, Aquagirl is Tula II, the estranged teenage daughter of Garth (formerly Aqualad, now Aquaman).[20] She is named Tula after her father's late girlfriend and is part of a team consisting of the other original Titans' children who end up taking Batman's side in the story's key conflict. In her appearances, Tula seemingly demonstrates a partial shapeshifting ability, changing parts of her body to resemble those of sea creatures. She is last seen battling Donna Troy during the climactic battle at the superhuman Gulag and is possibly killed by the nuclear explosion that ends the conflict.

This Tula's mother is possibly Deep Blue, described in annotations for the series as "Mizuko Perkins", daughter of Tsunami and Neptune Perkins. In standard DC Comics continuity, Deep Blue is Aquaman's half-sister Debbie, the daughter of Tsunami and Atlan, raised by Tsunami and Neptune Perkins.

In "Titans Tomorrow", an alternate timeline story featured in Teen Titans vol. 3 #17–19 (2005) by writer Geoff Johns and artist Mike McKone, Lorena is Aquawoman, a member of a future, alternate version of the Titans. She has developed telepathic powers which she had used to kill (or paralyze) former Titan member Garth.

In other media

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Television

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Mareena as she appears in Batman Beyond (left) and Justice League Unlimited (right).
Tula as she appears in Young Justice.

Film

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An alternate timeline variant of Tula appears in Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox as a member of Aquaman's army who is eventually killed in battle against Wonder Woman's Amazons.[22]

Video games

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The Young Justice incarnation of Tula / Aquagirl appears in Young Justice: Legacy, voiced again by Cree Summer.[22] She serves as the Team's mission coordinator before being killed in battle with Tiamat.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Manning, Matthew K.; Wiacek, Stephen; Scott, Melanie; Jones, Nick; Walker, Landry Q.; Cowsill, Alan (July 20, 2021). The DC Comics Encyclopedia (New ed.). New York, New York. ISBN 978-0-7440-2056-4. OCLC 1253363543.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ "Aqualad's Deep-Six Chick!" Aquaman #33 (May–June 1967). The Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on December 4, 2008.
  3. ^ McAvennie, Michael (2010). "1960s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Aqualad found romance under the sea when scripter Bob Haney and artist Nick Cardy introduced him to fellow young Atlantean Tula, also known as Aquagirl.
  4. ^ Greenberger, Robert (2008), "Anthro", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.), The DC Comics Encyclopedia, London: Dorling Kindersley, p. 17, ISBN 978-0-7566-4119-1
  5. ^ "Some Call It Noise." Teen Titans #30 (November–December 1970). The Grand Comics Database. Retrieved on March 14, 2009.
  6. ^ Blackest Night #2 (August 2009)
  7. ^ Blackest Night: Titans #3 (October 2009)
  8. ^ Wiacek, Stephen (2021). The DC Book. Grant Morrison, Dorling Kindersley Limited (First American ed.). New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-7440-3980-1. OCLC 1285929768.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Johns, Geoff (2013). Aquaman. Volume 2, The Others. Ivan Reis, Joe Prado. New York. ISBN 978-1-4012-4016-5. OCLC 846910683.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  10. ^ Aquaman vol. 6 #16 (May 2004)
  11. ^
    • Teen Titans (vol. 3) #17–19 (December 2004 – February 2005)
    • Teen Titans (vol. 3) #69 (May 2009)
    • Teen Titans (vol. 3) #72–74 (August–October 2009)
    • Teen Titans (vol. 3) #83 (July 2010)
    • Teen Titans (vol. 3) #85 - 88 (September - December 2010)
    • Brightest Day #18 (January 2011)
    • Brightest Day #20 (February 2011)
    • Teen Titans (vol. 3) #98 - 100 (July - August 2011)
  12. ^ Donohoo, Timothy (April 21, 2022). "The Lorena Marquez Aquagirl is Aquaman's Best Sidekick: So Where Is She?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  13. ^ Parker, Jeff (2014). Aquaman. Volume 5, Sea of storms. Charles Soule, Paul Pelletier, Sean P. Parsons. New York. ISBN 978-1-4012-5039-3. OCLC 883749205.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  14. ^ Abnett, Dan (2017). Aquaman. Vol. 1, The drowning. Scot Eaton, Oscar Jiménez, Mark Morales, Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy, Wayne Faucher. Burbank, CA. ISBN 978-1-4012-6782-7. OCLC 957554649.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  15. ^ Steve Orlando; Marv Wolfman; Tom Taylor; Cecil Castellucci; Andrea Shea; Dave Wielgosz (2021). Aquaman. Deep dives. Burbank, CA. ISBN 978-1-77951-124-9. OCLC 1202772096.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. ^ Robert Bernstein (w), Ramona Fradon (a). "Aquaman Meets Aquagirl!" Adventure Comics, vol. 1, no. 266 (November 1959). DC Comics.
  17. ^ "Aquaman Meets Aquagirl!". Adventure Comics. 1 (266). November 1959. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Grand Comics Database.
  18. ^ Jack Miller (w), Ramona Fradon (a). "Aquaman's New Partner, Aquagirl" World's Finest Comics, no. 133 (May 1963). DC Comics.
  19. ^ "Aquaman's New Partner, Aquagirl". World's Finest Comics (133). May 1963. Retrieved July 13, 2023 – via Grand Comics Database.
  20. ^ "Kingdom Universe Titans". Titans Tower. Archived from the original on January 29, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  21. ^ "Aquagirl / Marina Voices (Aquaman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 12, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  22. ^ a b c "Aquagirl / Tula Voices (Aquaman)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 12, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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